Grand prix

While Dad is watching the real thing. I am training the drivers of the future.

Little Miss is Driving

We had a lovely morning in the garden here in Dublin and the sun shone for 3 hours. A few rain showers in the afternoon didn't stop us digging and planting. The kids are very tired as the days are very long we have sun light from 5am to 11pm crazy!

Princcess Zoe Siegel

Lex says at dinner "I am going to marry" well that is great and the obvious question is quickly asked by Dad "who?" Lex answers "well, Princess Zoe of course" Maxim then adds "but Pirates don't marry Princesses"

A pity

"Do you know what a great pity is?" said Liam age 3. "A pity is that I have no bike and Maxim and Lex do" tears in his eyes.
Next day problem solved as while olders boys out at school Liam gets to sit on bike in the garden all morning. "not such a great pity any more"

Play date.

Today

Do you like my tights?

Tea and me.

I have come down now from cloud nine (it was very nice up there I would recommend it) and I am back to the hum drum that is life with five kids under six years old.
I am just wondering if anyone knows of a condition caused by "tea overdose"? I never came across a case in my training but I am sure to get it as I must drink the most tea of anyone in the world. Actually that is a challenge if anyone else drinks more tea I want to know how?
I do love tea. I love new teas and experimenting with tea. I also like tea sets and pots and basically anything and everything to do with tea. Tea is my crutch for getting through a day of "mommy mommy mommy" every 3 minutes in a very high pitch voice. Maybe when I am older I will move on to stronger stuff? Um that has just given me an idea.
By the way have you tried Marco Polo tea - fabulous and if you like green tea, which I do, try Tee de Nil.
Pictured above is my survival kit.

James McAvoy

My birthday mystery tour included going to London to see James McAvoy in Three days of Rain by Richard Greenberg at the Apollo. Fantastic performance. And after he came out the stage door to sign autographs. It was such a thrill to see him in person. Note the authentic "man at work sign" behind us.

Birthdays

They say "we live and learn" but mostly we just live and don't learn at all.

Jumping the gun.

Well we all know hand knitting can be a very slow process so I have decided to knit a few sizes bigger in order to make sure they fit the right child when I am finished knitting them. My husband thinks I am looney, gone bananas or something of the sort because last night I finished a beautiful pink sweater see pic. size 3 to 4 years now my only girl is only 5 months!!
Time to take a little break from the needles and so for my birthday tomorrow we are going on a mystery tour .....more later.

A Little Sun

So this morning we had some beautiful sunshine. Eoin lept out of his chair to go out in the garden. He loves to go outside and didn't hesitate to take advantage of the half hour sun. I sat out with a cup of tea and pretended I was in SB! Very nice.

Glendalough

We had a lovely visit from a friend this week and I had the pleasure of being a tourist in my home town. We went on a guided tour of Wicklow, "the garden of Ireland" and at the end to Glendalough. All a lot of fun.

Chocolate is the solution.

I live by the believe that chocolate can and does solve any problem. Luckily my husband knows this and applies the philosophy as needed. Examples of his recently proffered very good solutions are shown above.
Now tonight he is away and I am facing a little problem known to all mothers as" bed time" and so I went to make a large cup of hot chocolate. Second problem the steamer is not working.
Right chocolate biscuits will have to do.
But I gave those away on Thursday.
This has now turned into a chocolate emergency I will have to break into the stash.
Sorry honey can't be helped I need the support as there is a lot of resistance forming against this "bedtime" thing. The fact that the five of them go to bed at roughly the same time every night you think would make it easier. I mean they know it is coming, and there is no way to get out of it but still they try every excuse to delay. Here are those that can physically get out delaying. Two cribs may not be enough for this house.

I love knit night

Every Thursday I go to a knit night here in Blackrock at This is Knit yarn shop. The girls are lovely and you always get to see some really fantastic knitting. I go to steal ideas mainly and ask advice about stuff that is way beyond my current knitting capabilities. This is my way of pushing myself forward in the art. Last night I got some beautiful new wool for a baby project. I had no photo of said baby with me "what kind of a mother.....?"so here is Zoë Anaïs Siegel this morning sporting her new Baby Surprise Jacket in pink of course.

Happy Birthday

This post is for Silly Susan - Happy Birthday. We wish we were there but know you are going to have a great Birthday. Here are the boys and Dana singing Happy Birthday to Susan before bed.

illness

Unfortunately we have had an attack of the vomit bug. This bug only shows up when Dad is on duty. It seems to know when I would like a little quiet time and then acts accordingly. SO I get the call "child x has vomited all over me". Really it has become such that I expect it. No panic enters my voice I just say" I will be right back". Then cancel my order and rush to a taxi. When the vomit bug has boarded ship, it is all hands on deck.
Now as you know the vomit bug travels swiftly through crowded communities thus we are doomed. Five kids under five years old is a lot of vomit.
As a result of these current circumstances I will not be providing a photo today. I will let you use your imagination - large buckets at the end of every bed.
I look forward to time passing and the bug passing with it.

Valentine

These are my 4 valentine cards made by my four sons. I am the luckiest woman alive and I even get to wipe their bums! I never liked this holiday until I became a mom - now any excuse to get out the glitter and glue and go wild. Holidays are made for kids not adults.
Happy Valentine's day and hugs and kisses all the way around.

Feminine or masculine?

This morning Eoin was playing with the screwdriver. Now with four boys I am well aware that the tool box is a favorite toy. But this was a first because instead of trying to unscrew the TV, radio, piano and table he kept picking up a knitted dress with the screwdriver! My assumption now is that he was trying to knit!

Weather

This is the snow we had on Sunday morning. We are only a half a block to the beach so this has never happened before. It did look so beautiful and lasted half a day. It was a very sunny afternoon and unfortunately for the boys we didn't get enough snow to make a snowman.

Birr

My husband is stuck somewhere between Spain and our house in Dublin Ireland. Yes the weather has gotten to us too. The seasonal but unusually severe cold has brought so much ice and snow with it that Dublin airport has all but closed. Jonathan was unaware of this as he has spent the last few days in the African desert. Now although I have no photo to go with this blog on his safe return I will share with you his snaps. I am going to bed now mainly in order to heat up. Goodnight.

Oh my Gosh Snow

The question is how to keep warm. My nose is cold inside the house with the heating on. Ireland just is not prepared for this type of weather. Lex's preschool closed as they are just not able to get the many heaters they have to bring the temp above 11 centigrade. Building must have zero insulation. It seems many buildings here are this way. It is blowing a blizzard outside. I was twelve the last time we had snow in Dublin that stuck. Unfortunately I am not a big fan of snow - well it is more the cold that goes with it and the dark days that are unpleasant. Give me a sunny California day anytime. But here we are and as you can see layers of clothes is the only way to go with baby Zoe staying in her sleeping bag. Next problem is indoor entertainment and Lex has that covered with guitar hero. Hope this cold snap is short lived.

Fab buttons and hand knit socks.

I just finished socks I have been knitting for Jonathan since June! These are very special socks. Anyway how many husbands get hand-knit socks in 2009? I feel like I am a throw back to the 19th century. Take a look - well the full effect is in wearing them you will have to take my word for that.
I just finished the BSJ for Zoë and found the most amazing buttons for it in "This is Knit" in Blackrock each one is a different animal so cute.

Dressing up.

Playing dress up is the favorite game in our house at the moment. This is them getting ready for the show. Lex is count dracula and Maxim humm not sure but I love to eaves drop on their game and here the story. Maxim told Liam the vampires don't go to tiny school much to his relief!

Lex's 4th Birthday

Dana made a lovely cake for Lex and we had four blue candles. It has been a lovely day with visits from Grandma Marie and Grandpa Jim and Uncle Richard. Dana brought a big dragon castle. Silly Susan sent the best Spiderman umbrella and a tool kit (the ideal gift if you know our Lex!) Here he is flanked by his brothers Maxim 5 years and Liam 2 years making a wish.

Getting things done!

I find with 5 kids in the house even with two adults it is near impossible to get even the simplist task completed. Booking flights on-line should be so painless -right?
Today I had to go down stairs to get my credit card. An operation which should take at most 30 seconds but 20 min later I am cutting a peanutbutter and banana sandwich (after checking homework, changing a diaper and settling minor power struggle). Then when I return to my computer to book flights I find it has "timed-out"!
Due to some unavoidable interruptions (oh and some avoidable ones) it has taken me two days to book 2 flights.
Here is said sandwich emergency and oh yeah I had to critic the current art project as there is now a competition in the house for Christmas art! I didn't like to suggest it might be a bit early to start that collection. Artists are a bit sensitive to a negative vibe especially if it is coming from mom.
I know I am doing all day long but as for getting things done it can be a little difficult.

Back Home

Here we have tiny school back in action. Lex, Liam and Eoin doing sand-paper letters. I am so lucky to be able to join in learning with these little ones everyday. I love that I usually am the one who has to say that is enough learning for today "let's have our raisin box" and a cup of tea for me of course.

Switzerland

We just spent a couple of days in Davos near Zurich. It was amazing. The most picturesque place I have ever been. Jonathan got the ski challenge he needed after 10 years away from the slopes. And I got so much peace and quiet only having one baby (little Zoë ) that I really feel rested.
The mountain air and great food where just what the doctor ordered.
I would recommend the train ride up there - magic!

Bedtime Blues

Does every mother have the bedtime blues? For about an hour after I have put them in bed (and read at least 3 stories) I have my 3 boys popping up with - I am thirsty, I am hungry, I need to pee, he hit me, my head hurts...and the list goes on. This is the door way and they just appear with one sad story after an other. Oh what to do? Anybody got a magic wand for me to fix my problem and have a nice quiet bedtime on time?

Playdate

The best part of being back at school is seeing your friends. Maxim had two friends over on Friday. They came directly from school and played first in the park, hide and seek, chasing then a quick snack and on to Lego and other toys. We had six boys in the house and one baby girl. It was a really fun afternoon. We all loved having a full house.

OK back to my knitting

I love to knit. Not that I really know why but who cares the reason for something as benign as knitting. Hum my husband might as he wonders why my stash is growing and planning to insulate the house by next winter. I am now competing with his electrical wires around the house to entangle any unsuspecting person or child who wants to walk from A to B.
Anyway this is Liam modeling my latest knit. I am lucky the boys love to have new stuff and strut around!

Last day of Christmas Hols.

It is back to school tomorrow for my lot and you know they are so happy. Yes they have been asking to go back - as they miss their friends. I am delighted of course it will mean less video games and more early nights (although that might be a battle at first).
It is getting really cold here even in the house. Lex has taken to wearing his new big heavy jacket in the house I think he just knows how good he looks in it.

New Year

Well we are all better thankfully. And Dad made fantastic pancakes early new years morning - here are the boys enjoying them. Our little princess is sitting watching them at three months she just loves to be in on the action.
Now that everyone has recovered it is back to the usual mayhem. One five year old who is practicing for his teenage years by asking me to play video games every five seconds.

Mom, Dad, Maxim and Lex went to see a play yesterday in our local theater. It was super. The cast of five did a fabulous job of Peter Pan and the boys just loved the audience participation. Maxim was literally on the edge of his seat the whole time. Here is to more plays and less video games in 2009. (hey, I am mom, I can dream!)

Chinamen eat gingerbread house

So finally the cake gets eaten. Don't those boys look happy now?
Most visitors to our house over Christmas found it amazing that not a piece had been removed but no it was intact until Dad broke in.
The boys are wearing these beautiful silk outfits Dad brought back from China last week. That are surprisingly warm by the way.

The gingerbread was delicious as you would guess and there is still some left to share. I know Dad is already planning next years cake. Great tradition.

Christmas 2008

Well Christmas this year was a bit of a wash. This is the best photo I could take as all the others show pale faces and runny noses. Yes the traditional cold virus came down the chimney on Christmas Eve and flattened us.
All I got for Christmas was a lot of coughing and sneezing.
But the silver lining was that lots of naps were had by all.
The days are very short and dark here in Ireland this time of year so by 4pm we were all heading back to bed.
Now I am just keeping my fingers crossed that we have a better new year but you know maybe we will just have to crack open that bottle of Champagne at 4pm and call it a day I am ok with that too.

The Boys wrote Santa Lists today, now as we all know these boys have more than enough toys.
As you can see the favor toys at the moment are the vacuum cleaner followed by the lettuce spinner so I think my Santa List may include some kitchen items!
This morning I said Maxim "you have lost your voice do you want to stay home from school?"
He said "no my ears still work!"

Maxim's Christmas Play

At ten to ten this morning we crept into the back of Maxim's school hall just as the junior infants filled onto the stage. They were the cutest five year olds ever in there Santa hats singing Christmas songs. This was a first for us as Maxim is our eldest and a very special moment. Of course I was too far from the stage to get really good photos. He has been singing the songs for two weeks and now all his brothers can sing them too (even though they are in a language non of them understand). So I took this photo as they sang them again in our living room tonight and Maxim is still sporting said hat.
P.S. Dad we miss you hope China is a blast.

The Witches House

Amazing - this house fills our house with excitement and anticipation. The boys helped Dad put the pieces of our custom house together. Robyn Van Tuyll designed and made this house in Santa Barbara California. We have ordered one every year for the last four and it is the high light of the season both for the kids and my husband. I can not promise more photos because I just know I am going to come down one morning to find a very large hole where children have crept in!

The Tree has lights

I finally gave in and bought Christmas tree lights. I have done this each year for the past 5 years. You would think then that I would have 5 sets but no each year I have to begin again at zero! In July I have lights and even random decorations but despite good labeling, in Dec - nothing. OK I am over that but this am I woke up to find my sons wrapped up IN my new set of lights. My second mistake (after leaving the box in plain view) was to ask them to untangle them.
So now you fully understand the mammoth job it turned out to be to just get these lights on the tree.

Tiny School in Progress

The big boys (Maxim 5yrs Lex 3yrs) walk to school then the day starts for the little boys (Liam 2yrs Eoin 1yr) pictured here. They have breakfast, load the dishwasher, sit their little sister (Zoë 2 months) in her bouncy chair and then it is time to start the learning! Tiny school is very serious work and as you can see here the key is team work. The tree puzzle is one of the favorites only second at the moment to the sand paper letters. This is my favorite part of the day second only to when they are all asleep and it is time for a cup of tea.

December in Ireland

Welcome! This is a blog for friends and family who are interested to see how the boys are growing and now our little girl too.




One cold Dec morning. The boys having breakfast before school and then half an hour later the boys having breakfast (number two for some!)

Lex's Crib Climb

Lex (2 years old) still wanders the house during naptime--so we've kept him in the crib longer than Maxim. To our surprise last Wednesday, Lex appeared in our living room at naptime... Now we can't keep him in OR out.